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AEVEX Corp. has completed its acquisition of BlackSea Technologies, combining the company’s aerial platforms and mission software with BlackSea’s unmanned surface and subsea vessels to form an integrated multi-domain autonomous systems provider.
BlackSea will operate as AEVEX’s Maritime Systems division under former BlackSea CEO Bob Pudney, maintaining its existing structure to continue support for Navy, Special Operations Command, Intelligence Community and allied programs while developing cross-domain integration pathways.
The deal brings BlackSea’s Baltimore manufacturing facility — which includes deepwater access, dual 30-ton bridge cranes, advanced robotic welding and a monthly production capacity of roughly 40 unmanned surface vessels — into AEVEX’s domestic manufacturing footprint. BlackSea has delivered more than 350 unmanned surface vessels and logged over 25,000 operational hours, including support for U.S. Navy 5th Fleet operations and missions such as Operation Epic Fury.
AEVEX supplies AI-enabled mission software, Group I-V unmanned aerial systems, long-range precision strike capabilities, contested logistics platforms and electronic warfare systems. The company has delivered and committed more than 10,000 systems through 2026, following 114% year-over-year production volume growth in the second quarter.
The combined entity will pair BlackSea’s maritime fleet with AEVEX’s CompassX mission autonomy ecosystem to deliver multi-domain payload integration and attritable autonomy across air, surface and subsea operations.
“BlackSea’s maritime platforms, engineering talent, and mission-focused culture align directly with our own,” said Brian Raduenz, founder and executive chairman of AEVEX. “Together, our teams represent one of the most capable and operationally relevant multi-domain autonomous systems providers in the defense sector.”
Roger Wells, CEO of AEVEX, said demand for autonomous systems is accelerating globally and that customers are prioritizing providers that can deliver field-proven capability at scale. “BlackSea brings one of the Navy’s most operationally deployed unmanned surface systems, significant production capacity, and trusted customer relationships,” he said.
Pudney said joining AEVEX will allow BlackSea to scale its impact across maritime missions while preserving its engineering depth and customer focus.
